[Brandt@Unknown: Miss Hikari, uh… was Sheila's death your doing?]
[Bulma: Sheila? Who's that?]
[Unknown: A total scumbag who's done every bad thing in the book. Think Naraku, but with even fewer morals.]
[Unknown: Yup, that was me. Has the Revolutionary Army already heard about it? @Brandt]
[Brandt: Yeah, not just us—Minister Ornest probably got wind of it too. The Capital's guard force has been on high alert these past few days. They've beefed up morning and evening patrols and are searching for someone matching your description… Akame's been questioned two or three times already and nearly got arrested.
Because of this, we've had to cancel several planned assassinations. If you're heading to the Capital soon, you'd better be careful.]
"…Akame?"
Inside the bunker, Uchiha Hikari paused, then realized what was going on.
When she took down Sheila and his crew in the midland city, she'd openly used her Mangekyo Sharingan. Plenty of people witnessed it. Besides Dotya, who escaped, others could've spread the word to Ornest.
Akame's age and height were close to Hikari's, and they both had black hair and red eyes. Without seeing Hikari in person, it was easy to mistake Akame for her.
Still…
[Unknown: Thanks for the heads-up. Pass my apologies to Akame. Also, I'm already in the Capital, and I'll keep a low profile.]
As she typed, Hikari's hands didn't stop moving, packing chest after chest of jewelry and treasures into a sealing scroll.
Say what you will about Sheila's character, but at least he did one good thing before he died.
Before arriving at this bunker, Hikari couldn't have imagined seeing a literal mountain of gold and silver. Compared to Ornest, who'd practically usurped the Empire's power, the wealth of those provincial nobles was pocket change.
After loading everything up, Hikari was running low on universal capsules and sealing scrolls. She started wondering if she should ask Bulma to pop back to the Dragon Ball world for a few extra boxes of capsules…
"Lady Hikari, it sounds like someone's coming!"
Cosmia, who'd been keeping watch at the bunker's entrance, hurried back down the steps, whispering a warning.
"Oh?"
Hikari nodded, calmly sealing the last two chests of treasures into her scroll before strolling out of the now-empty storage room. "The Capital's guard force?"
"Yeah…" Cosmia glanced back at the entrance tunnel, her expression tense. "Lady Hikari, I think we should get out of here fast. Your strength is incredible, but the Capital's guards have some serious heavy hitters. Plus, the Imperial Fist Temple isn't far from here. If they pin us down…"
"No big deal. I'll handle it." Hikari smirked. "You didn't think I came to the Capital just for some shiny loot, did you?"
"…What do you mean?"
"I'm here, so I might as well make some noise."
Ornest was definitely on her hit list. The guy was as vile as his son Sheila, one of the Empire's darkest pillars. If she could take him out, she'd be doing the world a favor.
Plus, Hikari had another motive.
In the original story, Esdeath's "Demon's Extract" was initially held by Ornest, and the gem Teigu that destroyed Leone's "Lionelle" was also in his possession. Who's to say he didn't have more Teigu stashed away? Taking him down could save her the trouble of hunting them down later.
Hikari led Cosmia up to the surface.
Just as the songstress had warned, the surrounding forest was buzzing with activity.
Roughly a hundred figures were converging from all directions, most armed with spears, though a few held bizarre weapons. Among them was a young girl cradling a small dog.
"…Lady Hikari, those guys might be Teigu users," Cosmia whispered, hiding behind her. "I heard from Sheila that the dog-like thing is actually a biological Teigu called 'Hecatoncheires.' It grows massive in battle and regenerates unless you destroy its core. It's dangerous."
"…Noted."
Hikari casually drew her Dragonbone Blade from her back, infusing it with spiritual energy.
The "heart" pulsed.
The three-meter-long blade materialized.
Then…
"Listen up, everyone! I'll count to three. Anyone who steps forward dies!"
Hikari's voice boomed like spring thunder, echoing through the forest.
"…What's she saying?"
"Counting to three? Does she think we're kids who'd get scared off by that?"
"Seryu, this villain's probably a big deal. Have Koro go berserk right away—we need to take her down here and now!"
"Got it, Master! Seryu will do her best!"
"…"
The guards were too far for Hikari to hear their chatter, but their intentions were clear through their actions.
"Sigh… you guys really don't value your lives."
Hikari let out a soft sigh, raising the Dragonbone Blade to her chest. With a deep breath, she swung it in a wide arc!
In that moment, a crescent-shaped slash erupted from the blade, tearing forward with overwhelming force!
"Getsuga Tensho!!"
It was like a repeat of the scene at the Governor's mansion.
Where the blade's light passed, the forest vanished.
Or rather, a blinding white wave swallowed the trees—and the guards along with them. Captain Oka, Seryu with her warped sense of justice, and the other nameless guards disappeared in an instant. The sound of collapsing trees filled the air, and a massive cloud of dust rose into the sky.
When the chaos settled, the forest, spanning miles, was a wreckage.
A few survivors remained, pinned under fallen trees, staring toward the bunker with unbridled terror.
Hikari sheathed her Dragonbone Blade and raised her right hand, palm open. "…Sword, come!"
Word Spirit: Sword Control!
In that instant, broken spears and shattered swords scattered across the ground lifted into the air, gathering together.
Hikari grabbed Cosmia and used the Dragon Ball Flying Technique to step onto the blade of a broadsword. With the surviving guards watching in awe, she soared into the sky, heading straight for the heart of the Capital—toward Minister Ornest's estate!